Emergency
I lost my passport in China — what do I do first?
Short answer
Do it in this order: report the loss at the nearest police station and keep the loss report, contact your embassy or consulate to apply for an emergency travel document, then visit the exit and entry administration to update your stay record before you fly.
Step 1: police report
Go to the nearest police station (dial 110 for help finding it). The loss report is the document everything else depends on — hotels, the embassy and immigration all ask for it.
Bring any photocopy or photo of the passport you have. It turns a long process into a short one.
Step 2: embassy or consulate
- Book an appointment — most consulates will not handle walk-ins
- Bring the police report, passport photos and proof of identity
- You will usually receive an emergency travel document rather than a new passport
Step 3: before you fly
Visit the exit and entry administration to transfer your stay registration to the new document. Airlines check this at boarding, and it is the step people miss.
Related questions
How long does it take?
Plan for several days. An emergency travel document is often issued within a day or two of the appointment, but appointments and the exit-entry step add time.
Can I still travel inside China?
Hotels may refuse without a physical document. Carry the police report and keep a digital copy of everything until you hold the travel document.
What should I do before travelling?
Photograph your passport and visa page and store copies in two places. Offline copies are the single highest-value preparation for this scenario.
Related guides
Verified 2026-09-11. Policies and booking channels change — check the official channel before you rely on it.
Get ChinaPass — these answers offline, with the phrase cards that work at the counter when your data does not.